Made by Mmofra

We’re committed to seeing quality creative content which reflects the experience and rich heritage of children in Ghana. Using our own material and ideas, we look for design and production collaborators.

If you would like to develop or distribute books and audio-visuals about the world of children in Ghana, contact us.

Audiobook pioneers

In collaboration with Afram Publications Ghana and the Estate of Efua Sutherland, we have led the way in locally produced audiobooks for children with Tahinta! A Rhythm Play for Children in 1999, followed by Voice in the Forest in 2006.

These unique products are both rooted in the Akan storytelling tradition. Featuring authentic narrative voices, rhythms and music, our audiobooks are good examples of English read aloud for Ghanaian children. They have been enthusiastically received in Ghana: Voice in the Forest, now one of Afram Publications’ top-selling children’s books, was chosen as the May 2010 selection for the JoyFM Read 100 Club.

Your donation enables us to continue bringing out our line of audiobooks. These are great additions to personal, school and public libraries and community literary programs everywhere!

Voice in the Forest

TOYOTA/CLiF Best Children’s Storybook Illustrator Award 2009

From the important literary legacy of Ghanaian writer Efua Sutherland comes this picture audiobook in which the voice of positive cultural values and respect for the natural environment is framed by the charmingly rendered drawings of architect and award-winning illustrator Ralph Sutherland.

Audio narration and music

Abena P.A. Busia is a celebrated Ghanaian poet and professor of literature. Her dramatic narration under the direction of Esi Sutherland-Addy bring the characters of the story to life over a background of original musical composition by Kojo Essah and Yaw Ediko of Takashi Music, a group specializing in the fusion of traditional African percussion instruments with guitar, trumpet, saxophone and voice. The resulting score is uniquely whimsical and delightful.

Prof. Abena Busia. credit: AWDF

Kojo Essah and Takashi. photo credit: Daniel Brown, RFI

Book design and audiobook production

Tahinta!

First published as Tahinta! and Vulture Vulture! Two Rhythm Plays for Children by Efua T. Sutherland, the audiobook edition illustrated by Edmund Opare is an irresistible invitation to join the young narrator as he moves the story along with the encouragement of the chorus.

The children of Mmofra Foundation’s Language Club perform the audiobook version, featuring Nii Noi Osuteye as the boy, Maria Bossman as the father, and a group of Language Club members as the chorus.

The Adehyeman Group provides the percussive beat which carries the story.

With the paced tempo, instrumental demonstrations and sampling of traditional children’s songs, this audio-book is accessible to all children in the 4 – 9 age group.

Other Audio-Visuals

Ananse and the Dwarf Brigade is a children’s play by Efua Sutherland which has been performed by the Mmofra Language Club at various venues under the direction of Sandy Arkhurst. The DVD version was produced in 2007.

Support Children’s Audio-Visuals

We have several great projects waiting for collaborative production. Contact us for information about how you can participate in bringing quality audio-visual products with Ghanaian content to children.

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Praise for Voice in the Forest

"Dr. Efua Sutherland has once again rescued a couple of folktale mores from our oral traditions and brilliantly merged and polished them into a truly wondrous gem of a tale for young people, as well as the young at heart. This new and dynamic rendering makes some ancient world wisdom accessible to today's children."

- Ama Ata Aidoo, 2006

Chopbox Art!

The "chopbox," a typical form of storage in Ghana, has been the best friend of boarding school students for decades. In partnership with artist "Pozu" Appau, Mmofra Foundation conceptualized Chopbox Art, illustrating themes from Ghanaian popular culture on these ubiquitous boxes.